Diastasis Recti and Weakness of the Linea Alba
Conditions
Brief summary
Diastasis recti abdominis, or rectus diastasis, is the separation of the two parts of the rectus abdominis muscle along the midline of the linea alba, without any visible defect in the fascia. Diastasis recti abdominis is most frequent during pregnancy and postpartum especially, after cesarean birth.
Detailed description
Cesarean births were linked to significant post-operative changes in the thickness of abdominal fasciae and muscles when compared to vaginal births and these changes may be involved in the higher rates of diastasis recti post-cesarean births. Managing diastasis recti abdominis begins with its diagnosis, followed by targeted interventions. Diagnosis usually involves manual palpation to estimate the gap between the rectus abdominis muscles along the tendinous sheet of the linea alba. Updated imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, are now more frequently used for diagnosis. Treatment either surgical or conservative; emphasizes physical therapy and personalized exercise programs. This method targets strengthening specific core muscles, such as the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor.
Interventions
OTHERMobile app-directed exercise program
The mobile app-guided exercise program initially asks the mother questions to collect information. These questions were about their motivation for exercise, the main exercise goal, and the area of focus in the exercise program
OTHERTraditional Abdominal Exercises
The traditional abdominal exercises program consisted of simple static abdominal exercises, graduated curl-ups, and corrected abdominal crunches with posterior pelvic tilting
Sponsors
South Valley University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Intervention model description
Two-arms Randomized Controlled Trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* First-time mothers who delivered by a cesarean birth * Post-cesarean women between 25 and 35 years old * Women with a Diastasis Recti of at least 1 cm separation above the umbilicus and at least 0.5 cm separation below the umbilicus
Exclusion criteria
* First-time mothers who delivered by a vaginal birth * Multiparous mothers * Those who have not a Diastasis Recti * Mothers under 25 years old and those above 35 years old
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inter-recti Separation | Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions | The distance between the medial borders of the rectus abdominis muscles measured in Centimeters (cm) by the diagnostic Ultrasound. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal muscle strength | Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions | A manual muscle test was used to assess the strength of rectus abdominis and abdominal obliques measured as an ordinal scale by a grading system of: Grade 0: No movement and no palpable contractions are evident. * Grade 1: No movement is possible but a flicker of a muscle contraction may be palpated. * Grade 2: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the head and cervical spine off the plinth. The scapulae remain on the plinth. * Grade 3: With the arms held outstretched in front of the trunk, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth. * Grade 4: With the arms positioned across the chest, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth. * Grade 5: With the hands positioned beside the ears, the patient lifts the inferior angles of the scapulae clear of the plinth. |
| Girth measurements | Assessment was done pre treatment sessions and immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions | A tape measure examined waist, Umbilical, and Hip circumferences in centimeters (cm). |
| Satisfaction level | Assessment was done immediately after 8 weeks of treatment sessions | A Questionnaire was used to assess the level of patient satisfaction with each treatment (grade 0; non-satisfaction for those have less than 9-10 on the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP), and 1; satisfaction for those who have 9-10 on the MYMOP. |
Countries
Egypt
Outcome results
None listed